Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Used this mostly for stereo and with a pc. Much better sound then a Marantz integrated and a computer dac (expensive terratec sound card). Marantz did a bit better imaging, but conecting this with a coax digital cable gave a much better feel to music with my large floorstanders. Tested with the beginning of One from Metallica - gave more punch and control. With a good source quite pleasurable to listen to for stereo. Great power, sound and a lot of features for 5.1 too.

Strengths:
Power, sharp clean sound, rythm, pace, tyming, lots of features

Weaknesses:
Imaging and bass compared to much more expensive integrated or pre/power amps. Tuner needs an outside antena.

Similar Products Used:
Different integrated amps and stereo systems

Price Paid:  $400.00 from ultimate

Summary:
not bad for the money, but i wouldnt buy another one.i personally dont like the hiss at higher volumes when watching a movie during a silent passage.

Strengths:
ease of setup. visually appealing. built pretty well....

Weaknesses:
hiss at higher volumes. not a selectable crossover point

Price Paid:  $200.00 from ebay

Summary:
my roommates and i randomly decided that we wanted surround sound in one of the rooms in our dorm — they're both music majors and one has been working in technical theatre since he was in 4th grade or so. being college kids that didn't save any money, this seemed like a pretty good deal. i particularly enjoyed the different sound modes (for movies, "specticle" seemed to work best). we were all very satisfied with it. this summer, we plan on saving our money and purchasing a denon avr 3803 with some b&w speakers, but thats mainly because they're real audiophiles, and they're pulling me into that direction as well

Strengths:
an awesome buy for the money, pretty decent quality, and neat little servo in the volume nobe that moves itself when you use the remote (its fun anyway)

Weaknesses:
a distinct hiss from the rear speakers and perhaps the front ones as well at higher volumes, and no s video inputs or outputs

Price Paid:  $321.00 from Authorized Yamaha De

Summary:
I found this reciever to be of quality build. The sound and video handling capabilities of this reciever were very good, in my opinion. I am a Yamaha fan. I sold this reciever to purchase another Yamaha RX-V2200.

Strengths:
The build quality is very good. The RX-V520 has very good sound and video handling capabilities. This unit provides a lot for the dollar.

Weaknesses:
The remote is good, but the buttons and lettering are a bit hard for this old man to see.

Similar Products Used:
JVC, Pioneer

Price Paid:  $400.00 from mediadiscount.ch

Summary:
Powerful!!!!Excellent!!!! A very good value for money receiver with a lot of i/o options. Equally good with Movies and Music. I really love the 5 channel stereo for music. With the remote I control all my gadgets. Yamaha proves again that they are the masters of Audio technology.

Strengths:
Power...Price...Varios DSP programs...Great for Movies and Music...Sub Out....Speaker volume setting for Centre, Rear and Subwoofer....It's a YAMAHA!!!!!

Weaknesses:
None so far....(May be the remote- It takes you a while to get familiarised...)

Similar Products Used:
None...Planning to Upgrade to a DD EX/ DTS ES Discrete system....